pete_ray

Ed, Greg, and I teamed up for a successful run up Liberty Ridge this past weekend. Favorable conditions have recently spiked the popularity of this route, so I'll spare you all the self-aggrandizing detail. In a nutshell, the lower ridge appears to be quickly nearing the end of it's season as the snow is quickly thinning. Upper mountain conditions continue to be nearly ideal. There's a moderately spicy problem (we set 3 screws) when crossing the bergie and a short section of ice (~30ish feet of low angle traverse) above the 'schrund before gaining the ridge to Liberty Cap. Ed took an interesting approach to this route and had us travel to the N Pickets and use the bushwhack up (and down...) Access Creek as a trainer to prepare for Liberty Ridge. But, that's a tale best told on another post. Enough of this crap. On to the good stuff... Overlay of our route Liberty Ridge from the west Working our way up the ridge Approaching Thumb Rock Team on Liberty Cap Mt. St. Helens from Liberty Cap Descending to the Winthrop ...and finally, a shot from our trainer 'schwacking Access Creek. Greg's expression pretty much says it all.